With August on the horizon, it’s time to stock up on No. 2 pencils, Trapper Keepers and anti-bacterial wipes. Back-to-school season is upon us, which means families and students are gearing up for some serious spending.
Last year, the average family dished out $661 per child on back-to-school shopping, according to the Deloitte back-to-school survey. The same survey found that 36% of U.S. shoppers are worried about making upcoming back-to-school related payments, and 57% of shoppers are concerned about the rising prices of back-to-school supplies.
If you find yourself stressing about the expense of sending your youngsters back to school, here’s some good news: There are plenty of (legitimate, non-sketchy) ways to get school supplies for free — that’s right, free. Read on for a complete guide to how to get free back-to-school supplies in 2023.
Creative Ways To Get Free Back-to-School Supplies, Backpacks + More
1. Get a Free Backpack Filled With School Supplies From Verizon
Every summer, Verizon gives away backpacks with school supplies through its Verizon School Rocks Backpack Giveaway program. According to the company, it’s given away 1.3 million backpacks so far. In the past, backpacks have been filled with school supplies like folders, paper, pencils, rulers and glue.
This year, more than 1,000 participating locations are giving away 130,000 backpacks on Sunday, July 30, at 1 p.m. Supplies tend to go fast, so find a participating store near you and get there early. Note: There is a limit of one backpack per child, and your kid must be present to get it.
2. Design a Free Pencil Pouch at JCPenney
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Every second Saturday of the month, the JCPenney Kids Zone hosts a free craft activity for kids. On Saturday, Aug. 12, the craft is a color-your-own pencil pouch. All Saturday long, youngsters can color in a pencil pouch to take home, along with other free back-to-school goodies like markers and a ruler. Meanwhile, their folks will get a coupon for 10% off to use that day on JCPenney purchases.
3. Get Pens and Other Free School Supplies by Mail 2023
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It’s a little-known hack: You can find free, high-quality pens and other supplies at many online pen suppliers and corporate promotional product retailers — all you have to do is request a free sample. You can find free pens and other goodies at a variety of retailers, but we’ve outlined some of our favorites below:
- 4imprint — At custom corporate swag retailer 4imprint, you can request free samples of not just pens but notebooks, water bottles, drawstring sports packs and more. To do so, create an account, visit a product page and click the “Request a free sample” button.
- Deluxe — Deluxe is another promotional products retailer that will offer up to $10 worth of free samples of its pens and other products, plus up to $10 of free shipping. To access samples, you must create an account, then select “Request Sample” on the product page.
- Pens.com — Pens.com will provide you with up to two free samples of your choosing. To request your samples, call their customer service team at 866-900-73667.
Similarly, if there are certain pen or school supply brands you like, give their customer service department a call to see if they’ll hook you up with any free samples. More often than not, they’ll be happy to oblige. Similarly, local businesses — especially office supply stores — may be more than willing to donate surplus or discontinued school supplies.
4. Get Free School Supplies with the Ibotta App
Last year, Ibotta, the cash-back-rewards app and browser extension, partnered with back-to-school supply brands like Five Star and Kleenex to provide free school supplies. During the promotion, Ibotta offered 100% cash back on certain brand-name school supplies, including Five Star three-subject notebooks, Ticonderoga pencils and Paper Mate Erasers. We expect a similar offer this year, so create an account and add the Ibotta app or browser extension to ensure you don’t miss out on any offers.
How To Use Ibotta Cash Back on School Supplies
Ibotta provides users with cash-back offers. As a member, you can search for your favorite stores, browse available offers and claim cash back on purchases you plan to make.
When you discover an offer you’d like to redeem, claim it and add it to your shopping list. Once you make the purchase, you can claim the cash back using the Ibotta app or browser extension. Once you’ve earned a minimum of $20, you can transfer the money to your bank account or redeem it via PayPal or in the form of a gift card.
5. Military Families: Get Free Backpacks and School Supplies at the Back-to-School Brigade
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If you or your spouse is a service member, you may qualify for free school gear for your kids through the Back-to-School Brigade assistance program. Conducted annually by Operation Homefront, the program collects and distributes backpacks and other school supplies to children in military families. So far, the Back-to-School Brigade has distributed more than 500,000 backpacks to military families, as well as school supplies like pencils, paper and basics.
To be eligible, your student must be a DEERS-enrolled military-dependent child who will be in Kindergarten through 12th grade for the upcoming school year. You can find a Back-to-School Brigade event near you online.
6. Check Out NeedHelpPayingBills.com
If you are a low- to moderate-income family, you can search for free local and national school supply programs on the website Need Help Paying Bills. The site lists information about retailers, government agencies, charities, churches and other organizations that are supplying free school supplies to families in your state or county. During the back-to-school season, you can often find places giving away free essentials, as well as backpacks, uniforms and even electronics.
7. Check Online Community Platforms
Online community sites like Craigslist, Nextdoor, Freecycle and Facebook groups are treasure troves of all kinds of free goodies. Browse these sites to see stuff people in your area are giving away for free. Surfing these sites in the past, we’ve found everything from free pencil sharpeners to desks to calculators.
8. Office Depot/Office Max Color Your Summer Event
On Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, go to a participating Office Depot or Office Max store to get a free 24-count box of Crayola Crayons.
How To Find Cheap(er) Back-To-School Supplies
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Want more tips for trimming down your back-to-school budget? Here are a few tricks for landing cheap(er) supplies:
- Get Tax-Free School Supplies: Many states offer tax-free shopping days during the back-to-school season in July and August. During these tax holidays, sales tax is waived on certain items — and school supplies, computers and clothing are usually among them. Considering that sales tax can reach up to 7.25% in some states, tax-free school supplies can represent some pretty serious savings.
- Shop in Bulk with Other Parents: Warehouse clubs and online wholesalers often offer substantial discounts when you buy in larger quantities. By pooling your resources with other parents in your community and buying supplies, you can land substantial discounts.
- Hit Up Dollar Stores: Dollar stores like Family Dollar and Dollar Tree often carry name-brands at lower prices. Certain deals are better than others when it comes to dollar store buys, but — generally speaking — disposable items like Post-it notes, folders, index cards, notebooks and poster boards are safe bets. Bonus: If you’re a teacher, you can get an extra 30% off school supplies and housewares until Sept. 15, after you’ve been verified.
- Check Out Thrift Stores and Garage Sales: Thrift stores and garage sales can be a reliable source of new and gently used school supplies at a low cost. And bonus: Buying second hand can help save the planet by cutting down on consumer waste.
- Hunt for Coupons and Promo Codes: Particularly during back-to-school season, retailers will release coupons and promo codes good for discounts on back-to-school supplies, clothing and electronics. You can hunt for the latest back-to-school offers on RetailMeNot.
The post How To Get Free Back-To-School Supplies: A Complete Guide for 2023 appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.